Cops: Marijuana-smuggling ring busted

BRIDGEPORT -- Police say they busted a marijuana-smuggling ring operated by a Derby man, seizing more than 30 pounds of the illegal drug.

The marijuana was being delivered to various addresses in the city from California, police said.

Leon Ferguson, 30, of Roosevelt Drive, was charged Wednesday with possession of marijuana with intent to sell. He was held in lieu of $150,000 bond.

Two local women, Cultrillah Salmond, 30, of Charles Street, and Teaka Rodgers, 29, of Hancock Avenue, had accepted delivery of the marijuana for Ferguson, police said. Both women were charged with possession of marijuana and conspiracy to possess marijuana.

Federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents learned Wednesday that a large shipment of marijuana was to be delivered by Federal Express to a home on Charles Street, police said.

Working with members of the Police Department's Tactical Narcotics Team, the federal agents set up a surveillance of the Charles Street address. A Federal Express truck eventually pulled up and delivered a box to Salmond, police said.

Police and DEA agents moved in and arrested Salmond after they allegedly found more than 16 pounds of marijuana in the box.

Salmond told police she had been paid by Ferguson to accept packages at her home, police said.

Investigators also determined that Rodgers was accepting packages of marijuana for Ferguson, who was paying the women $100 a package.

Another delivery of more than 14 pounds of marijuana was seized at a Coleman Street address, police said.